Iraqi Shi'ite Cleric Sadr Prepares For Political Return Muqtada al-Sadr's resurgence in Iraqi politics could reshape the country's future, with implications for regional relations and policy decisions. Top News · May 12, 2024
Iraq’s governing Shia alliance strengthened in provincial elections The Iran-aligned coalition wins 101 out of 285 seats, and is boosted before parliamentary elections in 2025. Al Jazeera · Dec 20, 2023
Thousands in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon protest Koran desecration in Sweden Thousands of people took to the streets in a handful of Muslim-majority countries Friday to express their outrage at the desecration of a copy of the Koran in Sweden, a day after protesters stormed the country's embassy in Iraq. France 24 · Jul 22, 2023
Analysis: Iran’s influence prevents Iraq’s Arab reintegration Ties between Iraq and the Gulf Arab monarchies have warmed in recent years, but Iran ultimately has more influence. Al Jazeera · Mar 20, 2023
Guns, cash, and frozen chicken: the militia boss doling out aid in Baghdad Former Shia fighter who had murderous reputation during civil war now offers help to city’s widows and orphans The Guardian - UK · Mar 20, 2023
Timeline of events: 20 years since U.S.-led invasion of Iraq It’s been 20 years since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began March 20, 2003 The Independent UK · Mar 17, 2023
Analysis-Iraq's mercurial Moqtada Sadr risks isolation with political retreat Moqtada al-Sadr, the Muslim Shi'ite cleric who dominated Iraqi politics for two decades, seems isolated for now after his move to step back from formal politics emboldened his Iranian-backed rivals and raised the prospect of fresh factional flare-ups. Reuters · Dec 29, 2022
‘Heist of the century’: how $2.5bn was plundered from Iraqi state funds Mystery surrounds embezzlement of tax revenues, which appears to have been facilitated by some of the highest offices in the country The Guardian - UK · Nov 20, 2022
Iraq’s Sadrist Camp Refuses to Join New Government Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's movement on Saturday announced its refusal to join a new government being formed by prime minister-designate Mohammad Shia al-Sudani. The announcement came two days after lawmakers elected Abdul Latif Rashid as Iraq's new president, and he swiftly named Sudani as prime minister in a bid… Asharq Al-Awsat · Oct 15, 2022
Iraqi parliament to vote Thursday on new president amid divisions Iraq's parliament will convene this week for a session meant to elect a new president, the speaker's office said on Tuesday, but divisions which have led to a year-long political deadlock may still obstruct progress. Reuters · Oct 11, 2022
U.S. Officials Worry As Crowds Invade Iraq’s Presidential Palace Long a thorn in U.S.'s side, Muqtada al-Sadr sends his supporters to battle police and call for dissolving Iraq's government. Zenger · Sep 21, 2022
Sadr’s Renewed Support to Salih, Kadhimi Upends Political Alliances in Iraq Influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr reiterated his support for Iraqi President Barham Salih and caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, saying they must remain in their posts to oversee the upcoming early parliamentary elections. His announcement upended political alliances in the country that had largely remained unchanged over the past ten… Asharq Al-Awsat · Sep 12, 2022
Iraq Top Court Says it Can’t Dissolve Parliament amid Crisis Iraq's top court ruled Wednesday that it does not have the legal right to dissolve parliament, a much-anticipated decision that raises the stakes in the country's unprecedented 11-month political crisis. The ruling by the Supreme Federal Court states the court does not have the authority under Iraq's constitution to dissolve… Asharq Al-Awsat · Sep 7, 2022
Top Iraq court says it cannot dissolve parliament Iraq's Supreme Court said on Wednesday it does not have the constitutional authority to dissolve parliament, a key demand by powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has threatened further unrest if the court does not do as he says. Reuters · Sep 7, 2022
Asharq Al-Awsat · Sep 7, 2022 Iraq’s Coordination Framework, Sadrists Trade Accusations over Maliki, Hannanah Audio Leaks The Iraqi judiciary announced that it was still probing the damning audio leaks attributed to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The emergence of leaks attributed to a number of leading members of Maliki’s rivals in the Sadrist movement is a new twist in the saga. The pro-Iran Coordination Framework, of…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Sep 3, 2022 How Sistani Silently Halted Iraq’s Slide Back into War When a pronouncement by a religious scholar in Iran drove Iraq to the brink of civil war last week, there was only one man who could stop it: 92-year-old Iraqi Shiite religious authority Ali al-Sistani, who proved once again he is the most powerful man in his country. Sistani said…
Reuters · Sep 3, 2022 How a 92-year-old cleric silently halted Iraq's slide back into war When a pronouncement by a religious scholar in Iran drove Iraq to the brink of civil war last week, there was only one man who could stop it: a 92-year-old Iraqi Shi'ite cleric who proved once again he is the most powerful man in his country.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Aug 31, 2022 Britain and the US… And the Round of Violence in Iraq In contrast to its establishment by the British in the early twentieth century, the second effort to establish an Iraqi state, made this century by the US, was chaotic and not based on a vision for how to build it. There is an immense difference in scale between the two…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Aug 31, 2022 Iraqi Allies, Rivals Hail Sadr’s Call to End Protests, Maliki Critical Iraqi and foreign powers were mostly unanimous on Tuesday in praising Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr for calling off the protests by his supporters in Baghdad in wake of the violence that erupted on Monday. All Iraqi parties, but one, praised the move as “national” and as having spared bloodshed in…
The Independent UK · Aug 30, 2022 ‘With the click of a finger’: Moqtada al-Sadr calls an end to Iraq’s wave of violence Firebrand cleric shows off his political power by turning on and off violence
France 24 · Aug 30, 2022 Iraq: Moqtada al-Sadr supporters invade the government palace and swim in the pool Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday announced he was withdrawing from Iraqi politics in a Twitter post. Almost immediately after, hundreds of his supporters swarmed the government palace in Baghdad in the heart of the heavily secured Green Zone. After the crowd was cleared from the perimeter, a curfew was…
ABC News · Aug 30, 2022 Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr urges supporters to withdraw from Baghdad's Green Zone, with dozens dead Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr calls on followers to withdraw from Baghdad's Green Zone, after days of unrest.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Aug 30, 2022 Iraq's Sadr Calls off Protests after Worst Baghdad Violence in Years Iraq's powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his followers to end their protests in central Baghdad on Tuesday, easing a confrontation which led to the deadliest violence in the Iraqi capital in years. Apologizing to Iraqis after 22 people were killed in clashes between an armed group loyal to him and…
Reuters · Aug 30, 2022 Iraq's Sadr tells supporters to withdraw after violent clashes Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr told his followers to leave their protests in central Baghdad on Tuesday and apologised to the Iraqi people after nearly two days of violent clashes between rival Shi’ite Muslim groups.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Aug 30, 2022 Iraq Oil Exports Unaffected by Political Turmoil Iraq's oil exports are unaffected by the current political turmoil in the country, three sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Baghdad is seeing its worst fighting for years as clashes between Shiite groups spill into a second day. Supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have surrounded the Majnoon oil field in…